Managing wireless transmission capacity

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for managing wireless transmission capacity, comprising storing, at a server, available wireless transmission capacity obtained from a wireless transmission capacity provider, reserving by the server at least part of said available wireless transmission capacity for a first user, updating said stored information based on said reserved wireless transmission capacity, receiving by the server an indication about wireless transmission capacity need concerning another user, detecting that said wireless transmission capacity need cannot be met, and taking action by the server to increase wireless transmission capacity available for allocation for said another user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to broadcasting content usingwireless transmission capacity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional architecture to broadcast an event in real time or nearreal time (live) on television or rich media devices is shown in FIG. 1.This architecture has some fundamental inconveniences for TV productioncompanies, mobile TV, IPTV (Internet Protocol television) & internet TVproviders like huge logistic cost and reduced flexibility.

In the architecture shown in FIG. 1, the broadcasting (such as, TVbroadcasting) of an event 100 of local or regional (e.g. country wide)importance requires the deployment of a mobile control unit 103,commonly known as a satellite truck, to the event location. The mobilecontrol unit 103 processes and transmits images taken by the cameras 102(and transmitted to the mobile control unit 103 via a cable connection104) to a TV station that hosts a Master Control Room (MCR) 107 a, 107b.

Small to medium media production companies, IPTV, Internet TV and mobileTV providers who usually do not have the financial strength to invest intheir own broadcasting equipment will have to rent the requiredresources from established major TV broadcasting companies. The costsrelated to the rent, deployment and maintenance of such equipment weighon the profitability and make it difficult to a certain category ofmedia production companies to enter or establish themselves into thelive event broadcasting market.

One the biggest cost factor, besides the required equipment, whenbroadcasting an event in real time is generated by the transmission ofthe video signal:

-   -   Using microwaves (digital/analog terrestrial) (as depicted by        arrow 105 b) between the mobile control unit 103 and the        local/regional TV station MCR 107 b which dispatches the encoded        TV/video signal via a TV-broadcasting tower 108 b to the        respective destination networks 109 b; and/or    -   Using (as depicted by arrows 105 a and 106) a telecommunication        satellite 101 between the mobile control unit 103 and the remote        TV station MCR 107 a that dispatches the encoded TV/video signal        via TV-broadcasting tower 108 a to respective destination        networks 109 a.

One potential way where the lack of flexibility has a negative effect isthat usually there are several secondary events happening beside themain event: Interviews in the locker room before or after a game or livereports around the main event location. Those secondary events may havealmost the same importance to the end consumer as the main event. Due tothe size of the equipment and the required proximity between the camerasand the mobile control unit (for a live retransmission), it is notalways possible to provide this information in real time to the endconsumer.

SUMMARY

In the context of this application the term event is to be interpretedbroadly. The term event should not be limited to cover only short termone-off type events like football games, but an event should beunderstood as anything that can be covered by a contract defininggeographical coverage and duration.

In the architecture shown in FIG. 2, broadcasting of an event 100 inreal time is arranged so that wireless enabled TV cameras 202 transmit awireless signal 203 to a base station 201 of a wireless network, whichcan be, e.g., a cellular network. The base station 201 sends 204 thedata via a communication network 210, using methods known as such, toTV-stations 107 a, 107 b via connections 205 a, 205 b. The TV-stations107 a, 107 b take care of dispatching the encoded TV/video signal viaTV-broadcasting towers 108 a, 108 b to the respective destinationnetworks 109 a, 109 b.

This architecture is facilitated by the following technological factors:

-   -   The deployment of wireless networks, like LTE, across the globe,        providing the required quality of service when transmitting a        live TV stream over the air.    -   The availability of new TV-camera models, each with an        incorporated wireless feature, such as a cellular modem. Those        cameras can transmit captured images directly towards the        wireless network to a destination platform.

The usage of the conventional satellite or microwave electronicnewsgathering truck (reference 103 in FIG. 1) is not required. Therelated costs and effort can be reduced: less investment cost due tocheaper equipment and less operative cost due to the simplicity of thenew mobile camera set.

The combination of those two factors provides a wide range of benefits,including reduced logistic efforts and lower transmission cost. Thecosts related to the transmission of content via satellite can get veryhigh compared to the price for a similar bandwidth bundled LTE uplinkconnection using several SIM cards in the camera's embedded modem.

According to a first example aspect of the invention there is provided amethod for managing wireless transmission capacity, comprising:

storing, at a server, available wireless transmission capacity obtainedfrom a wireless transmission capacity provider;reserving by the server at least part of said available wirelesstransmission capacity for a first user;updating said stored information based on said reserved wirelesstransmission capacity;receiving by the server an indication about wireless transmissioncapacity need concerning another user;detecting that said wireless transmission capacity need cannot be met;andtaking action by the server to increase wireless transmission capacityavailable for allocation for said another user.

The server may be a web server. It may be a broker server providing abrokering service between the wireless transmission capacity providerand the client. The server may reside in an IP network. The wirelesstransmission capacity provider may be a cellular network operator, atelecom operator. The server may be external to the cellular operator'snetwork. The reserving at least part of said available wirelesstransmission capacity for a first user may be in response to a requestor indication received from the first user or from a clientadministering the first user. The client (or customer) may be an eventpromoter, an event organizer, or a media company. The user is typicallyrelated to the client. The user may be an actual user (or subscriber) ofthe wireless transmission system, such as the cellular network. Thecellular network may be an LTE network. The user may be identified by auser identity. Accordingly, the reserving the capacity for the firstuser in certain example embodiments means reserving for a first useridentity (similarly reserving for another user in certain exampleembodiments means reserving for another user identity). The user may bea cellular modem camera containing a user identification module for useridentification. Such a cellular modem camera may be used to capture anevent and to transmit video/TV signals by the allocated capacity to thewireless transmission capacity provider's network to be furtherbroadcasted or live streamed to consumer devices. A bundled LTE uplinkconnection may be used between cellular modem camera(s) and cellularnetwork.

In certain example embodiments, the server requests the wirelesstransmission capacity provider to allocate the reserved wirelesstransmission capacity for the first user. The reserving and subsequentallocating may be performed for broadcasting content. The reserving andallocating may be performed for live broadcasting or live streaming acertain event, a media event. Similarly, in certain example embodiments,the server requests the wireless transmission capacity provider toallocate the needed wireless transmission capacity for said anotheruser. Said another user may be a high priority user, such as anauthority or a user representing an authority, such as a fire truck.However, said another user is not limited to “authority users”.

In certain example embodiments, the stored available wirelesstransmission capacity and the wireless transmission capacity need aretime-dependent. The reserving and allocating may be performedtime-dependently. The allocating may be done for the reserved timeperiod (duration of the reservation).

In certain example embodiments, the stored available wirelesstransmission capacity and the wireless transmission capacity need arelocation-dependent. The reserving and allocating may be performedtime-dependently. The allocating may be done for the reservedgeographical location.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises maintaining acapacity area grid comprising time- and location-dependent informationabout available and reserved wireless transmission capacity.

In certain example embodiments, said requesting to allocate comprisessending an indication to modify service priority concerning the userconcerned. In certain example embodiments, the service priority isquality of service QoS priority.

In certain example embodiments, said wireless transmission capacityprovider operates a cellular network and said server operates from theoutside of the cellular network.

In certain example embodiments, said requesting to allocate comprisesindicating to modify priority of a user identity in a database, such asa Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) database, a Home SubscriberServer (HSS) or Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) of an LTEtelecommunication network. Said database may be a network operator'sdatabase. Accordingly, said database may be a subscriber priorityinformation database, the term comprising also network elements in whichsubscriber priority related information can be stored.

In certain example embodiments, said indicating to modify indicates toturn on the priority “Conversational video” for said user identity forthe duration of the time reserved.

Depending on the implementation, the indication about wirelesstransmission capacity need concerning said another user is received fromsaid another user or from a client (e.g., an authority) administeringsaid user.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises:

requesting the wireless transmission capacity provider to provide morewireless transmission capacity for the use of the server. The requestcan comprise time, location and bandwidth requirements.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises:

requesting another wireless transmission capacity provider to providewireless transmission capacity for the use of the server. Again, therequest can comprise time, location and bandwidth requirements.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises:

upon obtaining additional wireless transmission capacity (to beallocated), updating said stored information about available wirelesstransmission capacity;reserving at least part of said additional wireless transmissioncapacity for said another user; and, in certain example embodiments,requesting the wireless transmission capacity provider concerned toallocate said wireless transmission capacity, reserved for said anotheruser, to said another user.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises:

indicating to at least one user to reduce its bandwidth usage.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises:

indicating to at least one user to start storing locally the data to betransmitted until sufficient capacity is again available.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises informing at leastone user about lack of wireless transmission capacity; and

informing the at least one user again when the lack of wirelesstransmission capacity has been cleared.

Herein the term at least one user comprises said first user and saidanother user as well as other possible users that there might be.Accordingly, said indicating and/or informing to said at least one usercomprises indicating and/or informing to said first user and/or saidanother user. Said indicating and/or informing to said at least one useralso comprises embodiments of indicating and/or informing to said firstuser without indicating and/or informing to said another user, and viceversa. If there are other users, the indicating and/or informing may bedone to them also depending on the embodiment.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises:

prioritizing said first user and said another user based on theprioritization level of applications they are running.

In certain example embodiments, the method comprises:

prioritizing said first user and said another user based on theirbandwidth usage and the prioritization level of applications they arerunning.

In certain example embodiments, said another user is a public safetyofficial.

According to a second example aspect of the invention there is providedan apparatus for managing wireless transmission capacity, comprising:

storing means arranged to store available wireless transmission capacityobtained from a wireless transmission capacity provider;reserving means arranged to reserve at least part of said availablewireless transmission capacity for a first user;updating means arranged to update said stored information based on saidreserved wireless transmission capacity;receiving means arranged to receive an indication about wirelesstransmission capacity need concerning another user;detecting means arranged to detect that said wireless transmissioncapacity need cannot be met; andmeans arranged to take action to increase wireless transmission capacityavailable for allocation for said another user.

The apparatus may be a server. It may be a broker server providing abrokering service between the wireless transmission capacity providerand clients. The server may be a server configured to operate in an IPnetwork. In certain example embodiments, the storing means comprises amemory element, such as a database. In certain example embodiments, thereserving means, the updating means and the detecting means comprise aprocessor (or processing unit) and said memory element. In certainexample embodiments, the receiving means comprises a communicationmodule and said processor. In certain example embodiments, the meansarranged to take action comprises said processor. The processor may becontrolled by computer program code stored in a memory.

In certain example embodiments, the apparatus is configured to maintainin the database a capacity area grid comprising time- andlocation-dependent information about available and reserved wirelesstransmission capacity.

In certain example embodiments, the indication about wirelesstransmission capacity need concerning another user comprises time- andlocation-dependent information. Accordingly, the means configured toreceive in certain example embodiments are configured to receive time-and location-dependent information.

In certain example embodiments, said means arranged to take action arearranged to perform at least one of the following actions:

requesting the wireless transmission capacity provider to provide morewireless transmission capacity for the use of the apparatus;requesting another wireless transmission capacity provider to providewireless transmission capacity for the use of the apparatus;indicating to at least one user to reduce its bandwidth usage; andindicating to at least one user to start storing locally the data to betransmitted until sufficient capacity is again available.

Said requesting and indicating can be performed for example, bytransmitting a suitable request or message via a transmitting means(e.g., the communication module).

In certain example embodiments, the apparatus is configured toprioritize said first user and said another user based on theprioritization level of applications they are running.

In certain example embodiments, the apparatus comprises transmittingmeans arranged to transmit a request to a wireless transmission capacityprovider to allocate wireless transmission capacity, reserved for saidanother user, to said another user.

Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments of the presentinvention have been illustrated in the foregoing. The above embodimentsare used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may beutilized in implementations of the present invention. Some embodimentsmay be presented only with reference to certain example aspects of theinvention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments mayapply to other example aspects as well. Any appropriate combinations ofthe embodiments may be formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional architecture for implementing a livetransmission of an event;

FIG. 2 shows an architecture for implementing a live transmission of anevent in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a method for managing wireless transmission capacity inaccordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows an apparatus for managing wireless transmission capacity inaccordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a visualization of a capacity area grid in accordance withan example embodiment;

FIGS. 6A-6D show capacity area usage scenarios in accordance with anexample embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart showing a method in accordance with an exampleembodiment; and

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart showing a method in accordance with anotherexample embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method to manage wireless transmission capacity in accordance with anexample embodiment is explained by referring to FIG. 3. The capacitycould be used to provide media coverage for an event via streaming orsome other broadcasting method.

In step 301, a mobile network operator or whoever has power to allocatewireless transmission resources (e.g., a Mobile Virtual NetworkOperator, MVNO) agrees with a broker service provider, represented by aserver (more closely described in connection with FIG. 4), about theamount of wireless transmission capacity available for the brokerservice provider. As an example, the operator provides the brokerservice provider with information on bandwidth, time and location, i.e.,where and when and how much bandwidth the broker service provider has inits disposal. In the simplest form the operator agrees to give a certainbandwidth at the whole area of its network 24/7. Alternatively, theoperator provides for the broker service provider only the capacity itsees unlikely to sell itself. For example, the operator might keep thetotal capacity or a part of it during the peak hours, and only providethe remaining capacity for the broker service provider, and/or theoperator might refrain from providing the broker service provider withat least a part of the capacity at predefined locations.

In steps 302 a and 302 b, the broker service provider is informed aboutthe time and location of an event needing wireless transmissioncapacity, as well as the required bandwidth. An event organizer mayinform (302 a) the broker service provider about the time and location,e.g., a football game held in a certain stadium at a certain date andtime. If the event organizer is also responsible for the live broadcastof the event, or if it knows the bandwidth requirements, it can alsoidentify the bandwidth requirements needed (302 b). However, it isalternatively possible that the bandwidth requirements are informed by amedia company (or provider) responsible for covering the event. It iseven possible that the media company has found the need for coveringsuch an event from said broker service provider and offered theirservice to the event organizer, or the broker service provider maysuggest a bandwidth and the event organizer or media company, as therole of a customer, may respond with the bandwidth requirement.

In an example embodiment, the information provided in steps 302 a and302 b could, for example, comprise information like:

-   -   Name of the event promoted (E.g. London Olympic games, soccer)    -   Description of the event (Further information)    -   Category (The category to which the event belongs to: sport,        music, politics, etc.)    -   Start: Start date and time of the event    -   End: End date and time of the event    -   Address: Main address where the event will take place    -   Coordinates: GPS-coordinates to identify the geographical        location where the event will take place    -   Radius: Radius outgoing from the main address and defining the        geographical area covered by the event    -   Bandwidth: Bandwidth requirement.

Based on the information it received in step 301, the broker serviceprovider knows the available wireless transmission capacity. It may, forexample, use a capacity area grid, explained later in the description.In step 303, the broker service provider determines if there is capacityto fulfil the bandwidth requirement of the event in the location andtimes indicated.

If the available wireless capacity is found the broker service providermakes an offer in step 304 to the event organizer, or to the mediacompany. Depending on how the broker service, provided by the brokerservice provider, has been build the offer can take different forms. Ifthe broker service has a web-based interface for the customer to inputtheir need, the offer may simply be a new pop-up window detailing theoffer and asking the customer to accept of decline the offer. On theother hand, the broker service may be fully automatized; then the offermay be made between two pieces of software, one running in the brokerserver and the other running in a customer device (the customer in thisembodiment meaning the event organizer and/or the media company). Thecommunication between the operator and the broker service provider canbe implemented in a similar way.

In step 305, the customer accepts the offer (or part of it). If thebroker service provider suggests a bandwidth in the offer, the customermay, for example, accept the total bandwidth offered or only a part ofit (if this already meets the bandwidth requirement the customer has).

In step 306, the broker service provider reserves the capacity acceptedin step 305. This can be, for example, by updating the capacity areagrid, as explained later in the description.

The time between the reservation, the actual event and the allocation ofthe capacity can vary a lot. Depending on the implementation, theallocation can be performed immediately after the reservation, or it canbe performed months after the reservation. For this reason, the brokerservice provider can make a final check about the available resources atsome time before the capacity is allocated, just to make sure that theresources are really available (step 307). This check can be performedby utilizing the capacity area grid, mentioned in the foregoing, andexplained later in the description.

In step 308, the broker service provider sends a request to the operatorto allocate the reserved capacity. The reserved capacity is allocated tobe used to cover the reservation. The allocation is done, in certainexample embodiments, by modifying the priority of at least one useridentity in a database. The database can be a subscriber policy databaseor some other network element capable of storing subscriber priorityrelated information. In the event of an LTE network, the functionmaintaining the database can be, e.g., a Policy and Charging RuleFunction (PCRF), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) or Packet Data NetworkGateway (PGW). In certain example embodiments, the priority is modifiedby setting the service type attached to said at least one user identityto “Conversational video” in the Police and Charging Rule Function forthe duration of the reservation (so that the priority related to thatservice type becomes also selected). A guaranteed bit rate radioresource type can be used. Said at least one user identity herein refersto the user identity in a user identification module of a cellular modemcamera used to capture the event.

FIG. 4. shows an apparatus for managing wireless transmission capacityin accordance with an example embodiment. The apparatus comprises abroker server 401. The broker server 401 comprises a processor (CPU orsimilar) 403. The broker server 401 further comprises a memory 404connected to the processor 403. The processor 403 is configured to runbroker server software stored in the memory 404 to control theoperations of the broker server 401.

The broker server 401 further comprises an input/output system 402 (or acommunication module) for communicating with network of the eventorganizer or the media company 420 via a connection 407 andcommunicating via a connection 408 with the network (operator network)410 providing wireless transmission capacity, such as the LTE network.

The broker server 401 further comprises a database 405 for storing acapacity area grid, or similar, with the aid of which the broker server401 maintains the available wireless transmission capacity and itsreservation.

The operator network (cellular network) 410 comprises a database 411,such as PCRF database for LTE network. As mentioned, the database can bea subscriber policy database or some other network element (such as theHSS or PGW) capable of storing subscriber priority related information.When the broker server 401, which may be a server external to theoperator network 410, requests the operator network to allocate wirelesstransmission capacity in certain example embodiments, the PCRF database,HSS or PGW, depending on the implementation, is used as described in theforegoing.

FIG. 4 further shows two wireless capable cameras, that is, cellularmodem cameras 102 a, 102 b equipped with user identities in useridentification modules 402 a, 402 b, like SIM cards. The user identitiesin the user identification modules represent users of the wirelesstransmission system, that is, users that need wireless transmissioncapacity (or radio resources) for communication of data, such asvideo/TV signals. An authority 430, represented by a fire truck in FIG.4, also comprises a wireless transmission feature, such as a cellularmodem with a user identity 432. The authority 430 may be a high prioritycustomer (or user). Accordingly, if the authority needs wirelesstransmission capacity, this need can override the wireless transmissioncapacity needs of other users. Instead or as well there may be otherhigh priority customers. In certain example embodiments, if wirelesstransmission capacity is needed for the high priority customer, therequired capacity is obtained for the high priority customer, asdescribed in more detail later in the description.

FIG. 4 further shows a second operator network 440, such as anothercellular network. The second operator network may be operated by theoperator operating the network 410, or by a different operator. It maybe an LTE network. In certain example embodiments, the second operatornetwork 440 is used to provide further wireless transmission capacityfor users, if the wireless transmission capacity provided by the (first)network 410 runs out. The second operator network 440 comprises adatabase 441, such as PCRF, HSS or PGW for LTE network. The database canbe a subscriber policy database or some other network element capable ofstoring subscriber priority related information. The broker server 401communicates with the second operator network via a connection 406.

FIG. 5 shows the formation of a capacity area grid in accordance with anexample embodiment. The cells of a capacity area grid herein arebasically cells of a map grid identifying the geographical locations,here locations or cells A1-C6. On each grid cell the broker serviceprovider maintains information on how much capacity it has to availableto sell and how much it has already reserved as a function of time. Thisis illustrated further in the capacity area grid usage scenarios ofFIGS. 6A-6D.

FIG. 6A shows an empty grid before available wireless transmissioncapacity is received from the operator: All cells at all times:Availability=N/A and reservation=N/A.

FIG. 6B shows the capacity area grid in a situation in which the brokerservice provider has received the available wireless transmissioncapacity from the operator, but the broker service provider has not madeany reservations yet: All cells at all times: Availability=10 MB andreservation=N/A. FIG. 6B assumes the simplest case in which the operatorhas given same resources to the whole network 24/7 (at all times). Itshould be noted that in practice the operator might want to vary thecapacity it gives to the broker service provider based on locationand/or time. This is fully supported by the grid, but left out in hereto keep the example easier to understand.

FIG. 6C shows the capacity area grid in a situation in which the brokerservice provider has received the available wireless transmissioncapacity from the operator and also has made reservations for the users:The broker has reserved 5 MB capacity for user A in the time period07:00-09:00 in location A3 and 2 MB capacity for user B for the wholenetwork from the time 08:00 onwards. The capacity area grid shows howmuch capacity is still left in each of the cells.

In accordance with certain example embodiments, there are provided waysto handle situations where the wireless transmission capacity availablefor the broker service provider runs out. Determining and handling suchsituations is now explained referring to FIGS. 6D, 7 and 8.

FIG. 6D shows a situation in which a high priority user or application,such as the authority 430 (FIG. 4) informs that they need certainwireless transmission capacity. For example. as illustrated in FIG. 6D,the broker service provider may receive from the high priority user(“User C”) an indication of the need of 5 MB bandwidth from 08:00onwards in cells A2 and A3.

Using the capacity area grid the broker service provider detects 601,typically via an automatized process, that even though in most locationsthe capacity is available in location A3 from 08:00 to 09:00 there isnot sufficient capacity available.

A method for managing such a situation where it is found that a highpriority user has not enough resources is now further explained byreferring to the flow charts in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The broker service provider receives available wireless transmissioncapacity, for example, via the procedure explained in connection withFIG. 3 (step 301), the broker service provider storing it in step 701into a capacity area grid or similar. The broker service providerreserves capacity in step 702 for the users A and B, for example, byusing the procedure described in connection with FIG. 3 (steps 303-306).Further, the broker service provider in step 703 updates the capacityarea grid to reflect how much capacity is still available, for example,using the reservation step 306 explained in connection with FIG. 3.

Now, an additional request for wireless transmission capacity comes in(step 704). The broker service provider receives this request from ahigh priority user (or a higher priority user compared to the presentuser(s)). For example, the broker service provider may have an agreementwith governmental officials/authorities that public safety officials,like police and fire department, must have immediate access to wirelesstransmission capacity that they need. In an imaginary situation there isa major incident, for example, in the event discussed, at 08:00, andpublic safety officials (user C, as illustrated in FIG. 6D) request anaccess to 5 MB capacity in cells A2 and A3 until further notice. Thisis, for example, to guarantee uninterrupted public safety communication.

In step 705, the broker service provider detects, for example, by usingthe capacity area grip explained in the preceding in connection withFIG. 6D that there is not enough resources (wireless transmissioncapacity) to fulfil the request of user C. In step 706, the brokerservice provider takes action to increase the resources available foruser C.

In certain example embodiments, the broker service provider could usemore sophisticated algorithms to determine which user to prioritize.These algorithms can include parameters such as how much bandwidth eachuser is using and/or what level of priority is allocated to theapplication they are running. For example, an application labelled“Safety official” may be allocated high priority and an application“Media coverage” a lower prioritization.

Some embodiments to increase the wireless transmission capacity for userC are explained with the aid of FIG. 8.

In step 801, the broker service provider notifies the user A or B, orboth, that there is lack of available transmission capacity. Also theuser C can be informed about the lack of resources in certain exampleembodiments, since even though there are actions that can be taken toincrease the capacity available to user C, these might cause, forexample, the connection time to be little longer than if the capacitywould have been available right away. As a response to this message thenotified users in certain example embodiments either reduce theirbandwidth use or start storing the data to be transmitted locally untilsufficient capacity is again available. If the message is only sent touser A, this might be all which is needed to get more resources for userC. In such a case the broker service provider may immediately jump tostep 804 of updating the capacity area grid.

Alternatively or in addition, the broker service provider in certainexample embodiments asks more wireless transmission capacity from theoriginal wireless transmission capacity provider or from some otherwireless transmission capacity provider (for example, another operatoror another network). This can be implemented by sending a message (orrequest) to the original wireless capacity provider or to said otherwireless capacity provider (or another network) to obtain more resourcesfor the broker service provider to allocate (step 802).

Upon the broker service provider receiving (step 803) more capacity thebroker service provider updates (step 804) the capacity information inthe capacity area grid, reserves (step 805) wireless transmissioncapacity for user C. Furthermore, the broker service provider requeststhe wireless transmission capacity provider to allocate the capacity foruser C, similarly as has been described in connection with FIG. 3 (step308).

In step 807, the broker service provider informs, if needed, the user(s)concerned that the lack of wireless transmission capacity indicated instep (801) has been cleared, and the user(s) can resume normaloperation.

Without limiting the scope and interpretation of the patent claims,certain technical effects of one or more of the example embodimentsdisclosed herein are listed in the following: A technical effect isefficient wireless transmission capacity management based on availablecapacity and transmission capacity need. Another technical effect isproviding further wireless transmission capacity for users in the eventthe wireless transmission capacity initially provided runs out. Anothertechnical effect is providing a method and apparatus for reserving andallocating bandwidth for live broadcast transmission of an event.

It should be noted the some of the functions or method steps discussedin the preceding may be performed in a different order and/orconcurrently with each other. Furthermore, one or more of theabove-described functions or method steps may be optional or may becombined.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examplesof particular implementations and embodiments of the invention a fulland informative description of the best mode presently contemplated bythe inventors for carrying out the invention. It is however clear to aperson skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted todetails of the embodiments presented above, but that it can beimplemented in other embodiments using equivalent means withoutdeviating from the characteristics of the invention.

Furthermore, some of the features of the above-disclosed embodiments ofthis invention may be used to advantage without the corresponding use ofother features. As such, the foregoing description should be consideredas merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, andnot in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is onlyrestricted by the appended patent claims.

1.-15. (canceled)
 16. A method for managing wireless transmissioncapacity, comprising: storing, at a server, available wirelesstransmission capacity obtained from a wireless transmission capacityprovider; after the available wireless transmission capacity is stored,receiving by the server a first indication about wireless transmissioncapacity need concerning a first user; making an offer to said firstuser to allocate at least part of said available wireless transmissioncapacity to said first user; receiving at least a partial acceptance ofsaid offer from said first user; reserving, based on the accepted offerby the server, at least part of said available wireless transmissioncapacity for said first user; updating an amount of available wirelesstransmission capacity based on said wireless transmission capacityreserved for the first user; receiving by the server a second indicationabout wireless transmission capacity need concerning another user;detecting that the updated amount of available wireless transmissioncapacity is not enough to fulfil said wireless transmission capacityneed concerning said another user; and taking action by the server toincrease wireless transmission capacity available for allocation forsaid another user.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:requesting the wireless transmission capacity provider to provide morewireless transmission capacity for the use of the server.
 18. The methodof claim 16, further comprising: requesting another wirelesstransmission capacity provider to provide wireless transmission capacityfor the use of the server.
 19. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: indicating to at least one user to reduce its bandwidthusage.
 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising: indicating to atleast one user to start storing locally data to be transmitted untilsufficient capacity is again available.
 21. The method of claim 16,further comprising: detecting that said another user is higher priorityuser than said first user.
 22. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: prioritizing said first user and said another user based ona prioritization level of applications they are running.
 23. The methodof claim 16, wherein said another user is a public safety official. 24.An apparatus for managing wireless transmission capacity, comprising:storing means for storing available wireless transmission capacityobtained from a wireless transmission capacity provider; first receivingmeans for receiving, after the available wireless transmission capacityis stored, a first indication about wireless transmission capacity needconcerning a first user; offering means for making an offer to saidfirst user to allocate at least part of said available wirelesstransmission capacity to said first user; receiving means for receivinga second indication that said first user has accepted at least partlysaid offer; reserving means for reserving at least part of saidavailable wireless transmission capacity based on the accepted offer forsaid first user; updating means for updating said stored informationbased on said reserved wireless transmission capacity; receiving meansfor receiving a third indication about wireless transmission capacityneed concerning another user; detecting means for detecting that anupdated amount of available wireless transmission capacity is not enoughto fulfil said wireless transmission capacity need concerning saidanother user; and action means for taking action to increase wirelesstransmission capacity available for allocation for said another user.25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said means for taking action areconfigured to request the wireless transmission capacity provider toprovide more wireless transmission capacity for use of the apparatus.26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said means configured to takeaction are configured to request another wireless transmission capacityprovider to provide wireless transmission capacity for use of theapparatus.
 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said means configuredto take action are configured to indicate to at least one user to reduceits bandwidth usage.
 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said meansconfigured to take action are configured to indicate to at least oneuser to start storing locally data to be transmitted until sufficientcapacity is available.
 29. An apparatus comprising: a processor; atleast one memory including computer program code; the at least onememory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor,cause the apparatus to store available wireless transmission capacityobtained from a wireless transmission capacity provider; receive, afterthe available wireless transmission capacity is stored, a firstindication about wireless transmission capacity need concerning a firstuser; make an offer to said first user to allocate at least part of saidavailable wireless transmission capacity to said first user; receive asecond indication that said first user has accepted at least partly saidoffer; reserve at least part of said available wireless transmissioncapacity based on the accepted offer for said first user; update saidstored information based on said reserved wireless transmissioncapacity; receive a third indication about wireless transmissioncapacity need concerning another user; detect that an updated amount ofavailable wireless transmission capacity is not enough to fulfil saidwireless transmission capacity need concerning said another user; andtake action to increase wireless transmission capacity available forallocation for said another user.
 30. The apparatus of claim 29, whereinthe processor and at least one memory are further configured to requestthe wireless transmission capacity provider to provide more wirelesstransmission capacity for use of the apparatus.
 31. The apparatus ofclaim 29, wherein the processor and at least one memory are configuredto request another wireless transmission capacity provider to providewireless transmission capacity for us of the apparatus.
 32. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor and at least one memory areconfigured to indicate to at least one user to reduce its bandwidthusage.
 33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor and at leastone memory are configured to indicate to at least one user to startstoring locally data to be transmitted until sufficient capacity isavailable.
 34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor and atleast one memory are configured to detect that said another use is ahigher priority user than said first user.
 35. The apparatus of claim29, wherein the processor and at least one memory are configured toprioritize said first user and said another user based on aprioritization level of applications they are running.